Postcard from camp: Officials at practice

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Postcard from camp: Officials at practice

FOXBORO -- The Patriots were back on the practice fields behind Gillette Stadium and in full pads after Wednesday night's session, during which players wore shells and shorts. Thursday's practice featured NFL officials as part of the mix for the first time this summer. They will attend three days of New England training camp sessions.

WEATHER

WHAT THEY WORE

Players were back in full pads on Thursday. Quarterbacks and linebacker Dont'a Hightower wore red non-contact jerseys. Rob Gronkowski wore a sleeve on his right arm, accompanying the pad he typically wears on his left arm.

WHAT WE SAW

* The Patriots had two new players -- offensive lineman Mark Asper and tight end Mason Brodine -- on the field. Offensive lineman Harland Gunn was released on Thursday and did not practice.

* Cameron Fleming with a nice block on Jonathan Freeny to spring Cadet. He later sealed off Jamie Collins during a period focused on interior runs. Fleming got good reps at right tackle with Cannon out.

* Speaking of right tackles, Sebastian Vollmer saw some time in 11-on-11 drills on Thursday. For the most part, he has remained on the sidelines during those periods of camp. It appeared as though Vollmer played Thursday's session while wearing a shoulder harness.

* Josh Boyce appeared to have a strong day early on. He got free from Malcolm Butler during one-one-one drills and made an impressive catch that drew praise from receivers coach Chad O'Shea. Boyce dropped a ball later in the practice, but mostly made good on the opportunites he was given with other receivers injured.

* While corners and receivers ran two-on-two drills, Robert McClain blanketed Danny Amendola and Amendola gave a diving effort to extend for a deep Brady pass. The play resulted in an incompletion, but it was a very competitive rep and showed that the effort level might be ramped up a notch after a slower night on Wednesday.

* Logan Ryan appeared to have a hard time staying with Danny Amendola in two reps during one-on-one drills. After one play, Ryan stopped to discuss with cornerbacks coach Josh Boyer.

* Geneo Grissom showed good burst in one-on-one drills against offensive lineman. The Oklahoma product's athleticism has been apparent thus far in camp.

* Rookies Brandon King and Matthew Wells got one-one-two time with special teams coach Joe Judge. Judge has worked closely with King during other practices.

* A couple of quick defensive notes: At one point Tom Brady and some of the more established players on the Patriots offense took on a Patriots defense that featured corners Malcolm Butler, Logan Ryan and Robert McClain, safeties Patrick Chung and Devin McCourty.

Later in the practice, corner Bradley Fletcher replaced Ryan, Chung replaced McClain in the slot, and rookie safety Jordan Richards took over the strong safety spot.

* Late in the practice, with the offense running what appeared to be a hurry-up period, Chandler Jones, Rob Ninkovich, Jabaal Sheard and either Dominique Easley or rookie Trey Flowers could all be seen taking reps together at the same time. It made for a relatively small, but quick, defensive line grouping.

* A reserve center had a hand in a fumbled snap for the second consecutive practice. Undrafted rookie center David Andrews lost his hold on the football on Wednesday. On Thursday, Josh Kline and Jimmy Garoppolo fumbled an exchange. Both players were forced to run a lap, and coach Bill Belichick spoke to both before they were allowed back on to the field.

* The Patriots defense was asked to run two laps after there appeared to be a substitution error before a field-goal attempt. It was their second and third team-wide laps in 24 hours. On Wednesday, Belichick had the defense run a lap after a substitution error late in the practice.

* Rob Gronkowski and Brandon Gibson made two of the most impressive catches of the afternoon. Gronkowski's came deep down the sideline with Richards all over him. Gibson's was a laid-out, finger-tip catch with Ryan in coverage.

* Tavon Wilson's interception return of Jimmy Garoppolo looked like it would have gone for a touchdown. Working deep in his own territory, that was a throw Garoppolo would have liked to have back.

11-ON-11

* Brady incomplete to Cadet down the sideline. Cadet caught the pass but fell out of bounds.* Brady incomplete to Amendola. Amendola laid out but couldn't reel it in.* Brady complete to James White on an option route over the middle. Ninkovich in coverage. * Brady complete to Boyce. * Brady incomplete to Harper deep down the field. Darryl Roberts in coverage. Ball underthrown.* Brady complete short to Boyce.

* Garoppolo complete to Boyce on the sideline with Chung in tight coverage. * Garoppolo complete to Amendola with Chung in coverage. * Garoppolo incomplete.

* Brady hand-off to Blount. Trey Flowers with the stop. * Brady hand-off to Blount.* Bolden shows good burst running around the left end. * Brady incomplete on screen intended for Boyce.

* Garoppolo hand-off to White. * Garoppolo hand-off to White. * Garoppolo toss to Cadet around the left edge. * Garoppolo complete to Gronkowski over the middle with Ebner in coverage.

* Brady complete to Hoomanawanui. * Brady complete to Amendola. * Brady hand-off to Blount. * Brady incomplete to Boyce. Boyce dropped what should have been a completion. * Brady hand-off to Boyce.